FOXBORO, Mass. — Cre’von LeBlanc no longer is just the guy with a name that kind of sounds like a pirate’s on the New England Patriots’ lengthy roster.
Now he’s the guy who hauled in an impressive one-handed, touchdown-saving interception in the Patriots’ 34-22 preseason win over the New Orleans Saints at Gillette Stadium.
It’s an early contender for preseason play of the year.
“It just stuck there,” LeBlanc said. “I just squeezed it as hard as I could.”
LeBlanc is in a crowded group of cornerbacks, including Jonathan Jones, V’Angelo Bentley, E.J. Biggers and Darryl Roberts, vying for what’s likely only one spot on the Patriots’ roster. LeBlanc performed the best of that group Thursday night.
Here’s how the Patriots’ cornerbacks fared:
Justin Coleman: Two catches on two targets, 62 yards
Jonathan Jones: 5-7, 40 yards, TD, two pass breakups
E.J. Biggers: 1-2, 28 yards
V’Angelo Bentley: 2-2, 17 yards
Cyrus Jones: 1-1, 9 yards
Cre’von LeBlanc: 1-4, 4 yards, INT, PBU
Darryl Roberts: 0-1, 27-yard defensive pass-interference penalty
Malcolm Butler: 0-1
It should be noted that Jonathan Jones, who has looked like the favorite for the Patriots’ fifth cornerback spot in training camp, was banged up and for some reason didn’t come out of the game on a drive in which he let up three catches for 19 yards and one touchdown.
Three weeks remain until NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players, so the Patriots’ reserve cornerbacks have three more games and plenty of practices to prove they deserve that final spot. LeBlanc set himself apart from the pack Thursday night, however.
Thumbnail photo via Brian Fluharty/USA TODAY Sports Images
